A short history of canal automation is given. PLC-based canal automation is relatively new. Advances in PLC-based canal automation are listed. Also listed are some of the remaining challenges. Recent advances have been made in understanding unsteady flow simulation procedures, the form of the control algorithms used, the tuning procedures for these control algorithms, and the field programming of the algorithms into PLCs. The experiences of the Cal Poly Irrigation Training and Research Center (ITRC) in automating a variety of canals with upstream and downstream control are given.

Charles M. Burt and Xianshu Piao. "Advances in PLC-Based Canal Automation" USCID Conference on Benchmarking Irrigation System Peformance Using Water Measurement and Water Balances in San Luis Obispo, CA (2002) Available at: http://works.bepress.com/cburt/54/

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